For 30 years I have worked in the Liberty Group as a tied agent assisting clients to achieve financial freedom. As a professional I am a member of the Financial Planning Institute and achieved my CFP® Professional status in 2001.
As a professional I put my client’s needs first. To lose a breadwinner either through death or disability is devastating to a family. The discussion with the client is based on their needs and how they may provide for their family should anything unexpected happen. Planning for their children’s education is high on the agenda. Efficient Estate planning is essential as it will allow the clients to plan for his family for the future.
Financial freedom is attained through long term investments that are goal orientated. These may include both local and offshore investment strategies. Other investment options include the tax efficient opportunities offered by contributing to retirement products such as Retirement Annuities and Pension Funds. My discussion with the client allows them to understand their options and how best to attain financial freedom at retirement.
Regarding retirement there is a trend that their children are now inheriting their parents. This is as a result that the parents did not plan efficiently for retirement, the negative effects of inflation and the downturn in the economy. This is proving to be the most difficult financial challenge to overcome.
I believe in the concept of “paying forward”. I was fortunate to have had opportunities in life that gave me a start and an education that helped me to be a success. I exercised paying forward by being a Rotarian for 30 years. Through interacting with like-minded persons, I tried to give back to the less fortunate in society; not handouts but the opportunity to improve themselves.
I have three children and have been married to my wife Elaine for 50 years. My son and daughter live in SA and my youngest together with his family have relocated to the UK. I have 4 grandchildren